Two walks for the price of one!

Walk 1

High Dam from Newby Bridge via Lakeside 5miles 750ft

Parking and setting from the weir on the river Leven at Newby Bridge

Passing the marina as I walked towards Lakeside

....and continued through meadows....

....and back to the riverside

Arriving at Lakeside where the steam railway terminates

Looking north up Windermere....

....and east to Gummers How fell....leaving lakeside I started the short climb to High Dam.....

....passing through Finsthwaite village on the way....

....and climbing up through the woods

.....to High Dam tarn

....where the lillies

....were just starting to bloom....

....and again

Leaving the tarn I returned to....

Newby Bridge.

Walk 2 

South Walney Nature Reserve, 3miles

I parked at the visitor centre which hadn't opened and set off round the reserve with a view across to 

Piel island....not a bird or a seal in sight 

I crossed to the marsh hide but still nothing to be seen....

.....except a rather interesting insect on the Viper's Bulgloss plant... any suggestions for the insect species would be very welcome!

I then walked south to the lighthouse and....

....and the shoreline hide....still nothing to be seen

....where are the 500 seals I was supposed to be able to see? At this point I decided to give up and walk back to the visitor centre! 

I enquired at the centre and apparently I should have come before mid May!!!!

I did actually see 2 Sand Martins and a few Oyster Catchers but they didn't seem to want their photos taken and flew off! 

Not quite what I expected today but nevertheless a very enjoyable outing.

 Kentmere Round Part 2

Sadgill, Shipman Knotts, Goat Scar, Kentmere Pike & Harter Fell 

Return to Sadgill via Gatesgarth Pass 9miles 2400ft

Setting off from the hamlet of Sadgill at the head of Longsleddale

Climbing out of Longsleddale to the Eastern ridge of the Kentmere Round walk

Arriving at Shipman Knotts (1926ft) the first of today's summits with a view down Longsleddale....

....and to Lake Windermere in the distance

Continuing along the ridge looking over the Kentmere valley to the Western fells of the Kentmere Round walk

To the East were the hazy summits and ridges of the Shap fells....

....and below me the upper reaches of Longsleddale

Arriving at Goat Scar summit 2054ft with Buckbarrow Crag across the valley

Looking up Gatesgarth pass, which would be my route down later in the day

The trig point on Kentmere Pike 2395ft

The fells of Ill Bell & Froswick across the Kentmere valley

Looking down to Nan Bield pass between Kentmere & Haweswater

Arriving at Harter fell summit from where there are some of my favourite views in Lakeland (2552ft) 

Including High Street & Blea Water

Zooming in on Blea Water

Haweswater....

.....& Mardale Head car park directly below

Leaving the summit on the path to Gatesgarth pass...

....between Mardale Head & Sadgill

Stopping for lunch by the river Sprint with Goat Scar above where I'd been earlier

Looking back up the pass

Finally arriving back at the parking area at Sadgill bridge.

This had been a fabulous day's walk, one of my favourites in all lakeland, but more importantly my 'gammy leg' had passed a fairly stiff test!!!

 Rydal to Ambleside via Buckstones Jump and Low Pike

8miles 1700ft

I got off the bus at St Mary's church Rydal....

.....and walked up the steep lane to Rydal Mount, the home of William, Dorothy and Mary Wordsworth for much of their adult lives

Where the lane comes to an end a footpath continues up Rydal beck valley emerging from the trees with a view back to Windermere....

A mile or so further on the path comes to Buckstones Jump water falls. A very popular place for a cooling dip when coming down from the fells in summer. 

Be warned of the very cold water, there have been too many fatalities across the country already this year!!!

A natural pool is formed by a rocky outcrop which the water flows over

There's even a shingle beach!

Looking down on Rydal water from the climb to 

Low Pike

Zooming in on Rydal caves above the lake

Low Pike summit 1667ft with High Pike behind. These are the first two summits on the Fairfield Horseshoe walk

Windermere and Ambleside as I started the descent....

....with the 'ever present' Langdale Pikes

Arriving in Ambleside I made a circuit through the town starting at the bowling green recreation area....

....and passing through the area of the Galava Roman fort, built under Hadrian's rule to guard the Roman road between Brougham & Ravenglass

Next came Borrans park which was a very timely place for lunch overlooking Windermere....

....and again

....and again

Lunch over I walked on to Waterhead where the Windermere ferries come and go....

....as well as other activities...

....and again....

....finishing with a final lingering look at the fells.

Today I was testing out my 'gammy knee' on the fells. I was happy with the result but not yet fully fit for a return to more strenous walks